Fault detector and stopping device for textile machines



Feb. 13, 1940.

FAULT DETECTOR AND STOPPING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed June 6, 1938 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 %%id%lhzwb "Feb. 13, 1940. w. w. BARDSLEY 0,

FAULT DETE TO AND STOPPING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed June 6, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 13, 1940. w w, BARDSLEY 2,190,169

FAULT DETECTOR AND STOPPING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed June 6, 1938 T 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 13, 1940. w, 'w. BARDSLEY FAULT DETECTOR AND STOPPING DEVICE FOR TEXTILE MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 6. 1938 I I l Patented Feb. 13, 1940 STATES PATENT ()FFICE FAULT DETECTOR AND STOPPING DEVICE TEXTILE MACHINES Application June 6, 1938; Serial No. 212,028

13 Claims. (01. 96-19) This invention relates to improvements in braiding, knitting, circular weaving and like machines and particularly to means for arresting the operation of the machine when imperfec 5 tions occur in the fabric being produced.

One object of the invention is to provide a mechanical inspecting device or detector for machines of the type indicated for detecting imperfections in the fabricated product and acting, upon occurrence thereof, to actuate automatically the stopping mechanism of the machine to arrest its operation. g

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated capable of braiding, knitting or otherwise forming a fabric from a plurality of strands and having means for aucomes looped, snarled or otherwise improperly 20 meshed in or applied to the fabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated employing a detector or loop-catcher adapted to engage imperfections occurring in the fabric and moved into position to close an electrical circuit for energizing the stopping mechanism to arrest the operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated which is 30 simple in construction, positive in action, and proof against derangement or getting out of order. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated which may be readily applied to machines already in use without material change in the structure or arrangement thereof.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which de- 40 scribes a preferred embodiment of the invention,

by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a conventional type of braiding machine showing the present improved fault-detector and stop-device applied to use therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged part-sectional plan view of the stopping mechanism of the machine showing the relationship of the parts thereof when the machine is operative;

Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the stopping mechanism with the parts shown in the same relationship as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar side elevational view showin the fabric is encountered by the ing the parts in position to effect stopping of the machine;

Fig. 5 is an axial sectional view through the detector or loop-catching device showing the relationship of the parts under normal operation of the machine during absence of faults or irregularities in the fabric; p I

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the relationship of the parts when an imperfection loop-catching device; i

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the detector or loopcatcherand its holder or sheath; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the detector or loop-catcher.

In machines of the present and similar types various devices are employed for actuating the stopping mechanism when the yarns or other strands break or their supplies become exhausted.

When the individual yarn supplies are comprised of multiple strands, for example, doubled yarns, it often happens that a single strand becomes broken and looped or tangled in the fabric to cause a fault or defect which impairs the quality of the finished product. It is therefore desirable to arrest the operation of the machine immediately such a fault occurs in order that the operator may remove the defect and repair the fabric.

For this purpose the present invention contemplates the use of a device for initiating the action of the stopping mechanism of the madetector or chine when single strands of the multiple ends break and causeloops, tangles or bunches projecting from the fabric, or when such faults occur from other causes.

arranged in close proximity to the fabric adjacent the point where the yarns are applied thereto. When an imperfection occurs in the fabric the detector is engaged by the looped or tangled end and movedinto position to close an electrical circuit to a solenoid. The solenoid constitutes the controlling element for actuating the stopping mechanism of the machine.

The device comprises, .35 in general, a detector or loop-catcher which is lead upwardly from the bobbins B under ten: sion to the braiding point, indicated at 9, where they may be braided into a tubular fabric, for example, to cover a core C fed upwardly axially of the machine by means of a suitable take-up reel or capstan it. The capstan H) is rotatably mounted upon a stud H fast in a cross-strut l2 extending diagonally across the top of the machine and supported by standards l3 rising from the bed 6. In other instances the tubular fabric may be braided without a core.

Secured to one side of the base 5 is a bearing bracket I5 in which is journaled the main drive shaft iii of the machine. The shaft [6 projects beyond the outer end of the bearing bracket 15 and carries an axially slidable drive-pulley I! which may be driven by a belt connected to a suitable source of power. Secured fast to the inner end of the shaft I6 is a bevel-gear 58 which meshes with large ring-gears, shown and described in the patent previously referred to as carried by the turrets 3 and 4 for revolving the latter in opposite directions on the base 5. Referring to Fig. 2, the rearward side of the bearing bracket i5 is formed with a housing 22 in which is a spur-gear 20. to a shaft 21 extending in parallel relation to the drive-shaft l5 and journaled in one side of the housing 22 and in a lateral projection 23 of the bracket !5. The gear 2i; meshes with a pinion-gear 25, fast on the main driving shaft Hi, from which it is driven, see Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Secured fast to the shaft ii is a spur-gear 28 which meshes with a similar gear 29 fast on a shaft 39, see Fig. l. The shaft 39 is journaled in bearings at the lower end of a yoke 3!, shown in Fig. 2, pivotally mounted on and depending from the shaft 2!. To the projecting end of the shaft 30 is secured a sprocket 35 which drives a similar sprocket 35 through means of a chain 31. The sprocket 3G is fast on one end of a shaft 38 journaled in a bracket 33 fastened to one of the legs 7 of the machine stand. A pinion-gear 45 fast on the opposite end of the shaft 38 meshes with a larger gear it carried by a counter shaft 48 iournaled in a bearing 49 of the bracket 39.

Fast on the shaft 48 is a small sprocket 50 which drives a larger sprocket 4! located thereabove by means of a chain 52. The sprocket 55 is secured to a capstan drive-shaft 55 journaled in a bearing 56 formed integral with the crcssstrut l2. The shaft 55 carries a bevel-gear 5! which meshes with a relatively large ring-gear 58 attached to the side of the capstan or take-up Wheel It. Through the train of gearing and chain-drives described above the capstan I0 is rotated from the main driving shaft it at a greatly reduced rate of speed.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the drivepulley i! may be rotatively connected to the shaft l6 by-any suitable means such as a clutch-member 66. The clutch-member 651 is pinned to the outer end of the shaft it and provided with an annular, tapered rim 6! adapted to engage with a correspondingly tapered internal face 52 on the pulley H. The hub of the pulley l! is provided with a flange M and adjacent thereto on the shaft It is rotatably and slidably mounted a collar having pockets 66 in which are compression-springs 6'1 arranged to bear against a collar or washer 68 abutting the end of the shaftbearing it to urge the pulley into driving en gagement with the clutch-member 60. Extending alongside the hearing if: is a shipper-arm '10 provided with a yoke H at its outer end formed The gear 28 is keyed with lugs 52 on its sides, shown by dotted lines in 2. The lugs 72 straddle the sides of the flange Ed on the hub of the driving pulley i? to provide for sliding the latter longitudinally of the shaft It. The shipper-arm it is formed with a guiding slot 73 engaged by a boss or projection l on the side of the bearing bracket it. At its opposite end the shipper-arm it carries an eyebolt 15 by means of which it is pivotally connected to a knock-off device, to be later described, for controlling the operation of the clutch-mechanism.

The exterior of the base 5 of the machine is formed with a cylindrical, flanged seat is, see

Fig. l, on which is mounted a brake-ring ii. The brake-ring fl is adapted to be rotated to a slight extent on the base 5 and moved upwardly by instrumentalities, to be later described, which are actuated automatically upon relief of tension on the strands 8 being braided, caused by breakage thereof or exhaustion of the supply. The rotative movement of the brake-ring 'il effects the operation of the above-mentioned knock-off de vice for disconnecting the driving means and the ring is also moved upwardly to cause it to wedge against and arrest the rotation of the turret 4.

The stopping mechanism of the machine may be of conventional and, as illustrated in Fig. 2, it comprises a spring it anchored at one end to the boss M of the bracket 35. The opposite end of the spring 78 is connected to one arm 32 of a stopping lever 85 pivoted on a stud it projecting upwardly from an extension of the bracket 55. otally connected at t l to the eye-bolt ?5 carried by the shipper-arm iii. A starting lever or handle 85, also pivoted on the stud 8i, has a toe 35' adapted to engage a shoulder 559 on the lever 36 to rock the latter against the tension of the spring 78 whereby to move the shipper: arm ill to effect the clutching action in starting the machine. The lever 89 is locked in the position shown in Fig. to render the machine operative, by means of a detent-latch or pawl 85. The pawl 85 is pivoted to an arm of the lever Bil by a pin 8'! and is provided at its free end with a hardened block 259, one edge of which is adapted to engage a shoulder it of a lock-pin 9! fast in the top of the bracket it, see Fig. 2. A spring 96 having one end connected to the latch 36 and its opposite end anchored to an arm 9! on the lever 8!! tends to maintain the latch 86 engaged with the detent-pin 9!.

An arm 92' bolted to the brake-ring ll projects radially outward therefrom above the bracket 15 and is formed with a beveled or angular edge 98 at its end. The purpose of this latter constructicn is to provide means for releasing the detentpawl 86 by the rotary movement of the brake-ring T! in the manner as later explained. connected at one end to a pin on the arm 92 has its opposite end pivotally connected to the pivot-pin 81 on the arm 88 of the stopping lever BU. ment of the brake-rin if during the counterclockwise rocking movement of the lever 38 under the action of the spring '56.

To actuate the stopping mechanism to declutch the driving pulley I7 and arrest the rotation of the turrets 3 and i the pawl 86 on the stopping lever 80 is released from engagement with the lock-pin 9| either by the mechanical means last described or by electrically controlled means as later described. 'A knock-off plate I00, shown in A second arm 83 of the lever 89 is piv- A link as i The link 93 functions to continue the move- I00 rests upon the top of the bracket I5 and has an elongated slot E52 at one end through which the detent pin M projects whereby to provide for sliding movement of. the plate with respect to the pin. The opposite end of the plate I00 is hingedly connected at I93 to the upperarm I04 of a bell-crank lever Hi5, see Figs. 3 and 4. The bell-crank lever I 35 is pivotally mounted on a pin I06 held in an angle-iron I08 which is secured to the side of the housing 22 of thebracket I5 by means of a bolt I09., One end of the horizontal leg of the angle-iron I08 rests upon the top of the housing 22 while its opposite end is extended laterally to form a shelf IIll adapted to seat upon the top. of the bracket l5 and provided with a circular hole through which the detent-pin 9I projects. The knock-off plate I00 is adaptedto be slid along the shelf lit by means to be next described to cause its pin ml towedge against the beveled end of the pawl 86 to disengage its block 89 from the detent-shoulder 90.

Pivoted to the arm 1 l3 of the bell-crank lever I05 at MI is a depending dog IIZ, the lower end of which is adapted to make contact with the periphery of a toothed wheel I I4 secured fast to the shaft 2I, previously described, and continuously rotated therewith in a ,clockwise direction as viewed in'Figs. 3; and 4. The lower end of the dog H2 is held free from engagement with the teeth gagement with the teeth of the wheel I I 4. The

dog H2 is formed with upper and lower stoplugs H6 which engage against the sides of the arm ll3oithebell-crank lever I05 in themanner illustrated'jin Figs. 3 and 4 to limit the pivotal movement of the dog with respect to the lever.

The link H5 is slidable through a slot in the vertical leg I I1 of an angular sheet-metal bracket l I3 secured to the top of the angle-iron I08 and is pivotally connected to the end of a plunger-rod I2l by a pin I22. The link I it is urged toward the right as shown in Fig. .3 by means of a coilspring I23to withhold the lower end of the dog I I2 from engagement with the toothed wheel I I4.

The spring I23 surrounds the link H5 with one end bearing against the leg l I1 of the bracket II8 and its opposite end held by a washer I24 carried by the link- The dog H2 is rocked to engage its lower end with the teeth of the wheel i It by sliding the link H5 toward the left, a solenoid I25 attached to the side of the housing 22 by screws I26 being employed for this purpose. The solenoid I25 is pro-' vided with a slidable plunger or armature I21 adapted to be drawn into the solenoid when the latter is energized. Inward sliding movement of thelp-lunger 621 causes the rod IZI and link II5 swing the lower end of the dog H2 into engagement with the wheel H4. This latter movement I is terminated when the upper stop-lug H6 strikes against the bell-crank lever I95. As the wheel II4 rotates in the direction indicated by the ar- 1 rows in Figs. 3 and 4 one of its teeth will enlever I05 in a counterclockwise direction, there by sliding the plate I00 toward the left as viewed I in Fig. 4 whereby to force its pin IOI against the beveled end of the pawl 86 to pry the latter away 1 from the detent-pin9l. Upon release of. the pawl 83 the stopping mechanism is actuated to arrest the operation of the machine in the manner as hereinafter more fully explained."

Means as usually provided for stopping the ma- 1 chine when a yarn breaks or its supply is ex-,

hausted are shown and describedin United States posed in spaced relationship around the turret 4. The plungers I29 are actuated .under the control oftension-devices acting on the strands during the braiding or other operationof the machine.

When the tension is relieved upon breakage of a strand or exhaustion of its supply one or more of. l the plungers I29will be depressed into position to engage the upper. end of a lever I30, see Figs. 3

and 4, pivoted on a stud I3I fast in a plate I32 secured tothe base 5. At one end of the plateI32'is with a similar inclined face I38 on a plate I39 fastened to the brake-ring 11 by a screw. I40 which projects forwardly through a slot I43 in the lever I30. The two plates I32 and I39 serve 2 as wedge-blocks, their angular faces being brought into, engagement when the brake-ring 11 isrotated to cause the latter to be lifted to engage its inner tapered face with the tapered periphery or brake-surface 16 on the turret 4. As the.

brake-ring 11 is rotated the angularedge 93 of the arm 92 is moved into position to engage the beveled end of the pawl 86 to pry the latter away from the pin 9| and disconnect the drive for the machine. A plurality of the [cooperating plates or wedge-blocks I32 and I39 are preferably employed on the machine, being arranged at intervals around the the circumference of the base 5,

tension or, arm I46 provided with a threaded hole check-nut I48 on the screw I41 holdsthe screw I41 in its adjusted position. v A flexible wire I93 having one of its ends secured to the screw I41 by means of the nut I48 extends upwardlyto the detector or loop-catcher I65 to be later describedscrew M4 is anangular bracket I45, see Figs. 3 and 4, constructed of fiber or other dielectric .material. The bracket I45 has a right-angle ex 15.0 'for receiving an adjustable contact-screw I41. A

Attached to the side of the base 5 by means of a screw I52 is a fiber bracket I53 similar in construction tothe bracket I45. A leaf-spring I54 secured to the side of the bracket I53 reaches upwardly therefrom and carries a contact-screwl58 nut I59 has its opposite end joined to a terminal I50 of the windings of thesolenoid I25. Electrical current is supplied tothe solenoid windings from a suitablesource, not herein shown, through a circuit including a conductor I60 and with the two'elements I41 and I58 in engagement the circut is completed to the detector orloop-catcher byway ofthe wires I49 and I93. I

In applying a fabric covering to electricalconductors, rubber hose and other flexible tubing-or 75 device, indicated generally ,naled a hollow spindle H5.

sprocket 163 from by a fiber strip I95.

-the like, the yarn strands are-usually composed of multiple ends wound in parallel relationship.

For the purpose of arresting the operation of the machine when a single end of any multipleend strand breaks and becomes lcopedin the fabric,.-or when a snarl or tangle appears there in from any cause; the'present invention comprises a detector-device which acts automatioally t'o' close'the electrical circuit, before de a split hub Hi8 bored to receive a vertical rod 169. A mounting l'lEl formed with a hub ill at one end *is'adjustably secured to the lower end of the rod M9 by means of a set-screw I1 2, see Figs. 5 and 6. The mounting Il'El is formed with a vertical bearing lit, in which is jour- The spindle llii has a flanged head lit which seats upon the upper end of the bearing 1'53 and an axial bore Ill through which the fabric '5 feeds upwardly to the' take-up capstan l8. Secured to the upper end of the spindle H5 by means of screws H8 is a bevel-gear ill? arranged in mesh with a bevel-pinion I89 fast on a shaft ESE journaled in a bearing hub I E2 on the mounting lit and extending at right-angles to the spindle H5. Fast on the opposite end of the shaft i8! is a which is driven from a larger sprocket 84 on the capstan-shaft 55, previously referred to, by means of a chain 85, see Fig. 1. Fastened to the under side or" the head ll't of the spindle I75 in any suitable manner is a fiber washer or annulus i538 which carries a metal contact-ring [83, preferably constructed of brass, on its under side. The contact-ring It? is rotated with the spindle M5 to adapt it to wipe across the end of a carbon brush it?) slid-- ably mounted in a holder Mill fastened to the side of the bearing H3 and insulated there- 'Ihe brush tilt is urged'upwardly against the contact-ring it? by a coil-spring I92 pocketed in the holder Hill. The wire 1%, previously described as having one ."Bl'ld joined to the contact-screw l l'l, has its op.- "posite'end attached to the holder Q95. A pin 1'95 riveted to the contact ring l8? projects upwardly through an insulating bushing I94 insorted in a bore in the head ilfi of the spindle H5 and in the gear 119.

The spindle H5 is provided at one side with a small vertical bore l9! extending parallel to its axis throughout its length for slidably receiving a push-rod 196. The upper end of the bore 19? is counterbored to receive the flanged head of a metal sleeve 598, the reduced portion .of which is slidable through a hole in the gear H9. The upper extremity of the sleeve W8 is threaded to receive an interiorly threaded fiber coupling flail. Screwed into the upper end of the coupling its is a contact-screw 200 which is held in adjusted position in the coupling by means of a. check-nut 21. A wire 2&2 is connected to the upper threaded portion of the, pin

Hi5 by means of a nut 203 and spaced from the top of the gear I19 by a fiber washer 20 i. The opposite end of the wire 202 is connected to the contact-screw 206 between the nut 26! and the end of the coupling I99.

the thimble 2%.

attached to the core C at the braiding Detachably mounted on a reduced lower portion of the spindle H5 is a thimble or cap .208. The thimble 208 comprises a cylindrical shell portion which surrounds the reduced end of the spindle and a lower annular portion 299 of less diameter having an axial hole through which the fabric Fieeds. A pin are held in the lower end of the spindle H5 projects radially outward to engage in a bayonet slot 2H in the thimble 2B8, seeFigs. 1, 5 and 6 to provide for quick application and detachment of the thimble without the use of tools.

Slidable within the annular portion 209 of the thimble 208 is a cylindrical bushing or sheath 252, the lower end of which is rolled inwardly to form a flange engaging the lower end of a tubular loop-catcher 2E5, see Figs. 5 and 8. The loop-catcher 215 is held within the sheath 2l2 by means of an annular metal disk 21B fastenedto the upper end of the sheath with its-- inner rim overlying the upper end of the loopcatcher. The disk 2% is of appropriate diameter to cause its rim to underliev the lower end of the wire push-rod 96. The disk 2'43 is formed with a plurality of spaced rectangular holes for receiving similarly shaped projections 21F formed on the upper end of the sheath 2l2 and riveted over against the top of the disk in themanner as shown in Fig. 7. The three parts 216, M5 and 2!? oftthe loop-catcher are thus so connected together to form a unitary structure adapted for vertical sliding movement within The sheath Bill has a close fit Within the thimble 3% to provide that when the spindle :ll'ii is rotated the sheath will be s likewise revolved about the fabric F for a purpose as later explained. v The tubular loop-catcher M5, shown in detail in 8, is provided with a plurality of inwardly-projecting pointed teeth or prongs 220. i The prongs 226 are preferably formed by slitting the metal obliquely and bending the metal between the slits inwardly. As shown in Fig. 8, the prongs 22% are arranged with their pointed ends projectin .in "the direction in which they catcher .215 rotates as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7. The method of operation of the complete machine will next be explained.

To prepare the braiding machine for operation a core C such as a wire or other conductor,-

may be drawn. upwardly axially of the machine, passed through the deteotor-device M5 and coiled several times around thecapstan it; from which point it .is led to a suitable reel. or drum, not herein shown, to reel up the finished product. A suitable number of bobbins B are placed on the carriers on the bursts ii and t and the yarns or other strands 3 led through the tension-devices indicated at 19 in Fig. 1, with their ends For the purpose of the present explanation it .may be assumed that each strand 8 is composed :tact made at this point completes the branch of thecircuit comprising the wire M9 and the wire in point 8. 0

I93 connected to'the detector-device I65. The rocking motion of the lever 80 also slides the shipper-arm 16 toward the right, as viewed in the gears on the turrets 3 and 4 to rotate the latter about the axis of the machine. As the" heads or turets 3 and i are rotated in opposite directions in accordance with the usual arrangementin ma- I chines of this type, the supply bobbins B are revolvedabout the feeding core C and the strands s are manipulated "by suitable means no-t herein shown, to pass them. over and under one another to enmesh them in the fabric covering F.

The machine is thus driven to braid the strands s onto the core C,'but upon breakage of a strand, exhaustion of its supply, or when an imperfection occurs in the fabric its operationis automatically arrested in the manner as nextexplained. When a strand s breaks, or its supply runs out, the

plunger I29, controlled by the appropriateten-y sion-device E8 through which that particular r I I8 acts to rock the stopping lever 80 to draw the strand draws, is projected into the path of the offset portion M2 of one of the levers ISII. The rotation of theturret carrying theplunger I29 wil1 cause the latter to. wipe across the upper end of the lever IIiElto swing it (on its pivot I3I in a 6011-.

traclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. The rocking'action of the lever I30 transmits ro-,

tative movement tothe brake-ring TI through its screw-and-slot connection I43 and I43. This rotative movement of the brake-ring 'I'I engages the 3 J angular edge 98 of the arm 82 with the beveled end of the pawl, 88 and releases 1 1 latter from the lock-pin. The rotary movement of the ring I! is then continued by the spring 18 acting through the lever 86 and link 93 to carry the wedge-blocks I39 into engagement with the sta the machine when an imperfection occurs in the fabric. The spindle H5 together' with its'connected parts is rotated about the, fabric F just above the point at which the yarns are merged thereinto and the sheath H2 and prongedloopcatcher 2I5 are rotated therewith. The pointed 'ends of the prongs 223 on the loop-catcher 215. are,

thus revolved about the fabric with a clearance of a few thousandths of an inch and during normal operation of the machine, while the strands mesh in the fabric without fault,.the loop-catcher remains in its lowermost position with the push-rod I 96 resting .upon the disk 2H5 as illustrated in Fig. 5. During thisrelationship of the parts the lower end of the contact-screw 2051 clears the upperend of the rod I96. If, however, a loop or snarl is formed in the strands as they are enmeshed in thefabric, for example asindicated atbyin Fig. .7, one of the prongs 22B of the loop-catcher, I

2I5Iwil1 catch the loop and as thefabric feeds upwardly, it will lift the loop-catcher with it.

As the loop-catcher2 I 5is drawn upwardlyinthe thimble 208 the disk 2I6 is raised with itt'o force the rod IQfiupwardly into contactwith the screw 200. The contact made at this point will thus close the branch circuit from the wire I93 through brush I89, ring I81, pin I95 and wire 2% tothe electricalcircuit is thusfcompleted through the ground in the frame of the machine to energize, I the solenoid I25 which causes it'to exert a pullv upon the plunger I21. As the plunger I21 is slid into the solenoid I25 therodor link H5 con- I Iin k IIS rocks the knockoff dog II2 toswingits lower end into position to be, engagedby the teeth of the rotating wheel H4. "The movement of the dog I I2 in this direction islimited by the'engagement of itsupper lug IIB with the side of the bell-crank lever I05. As the wheel H4 rotates, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 one of its teeth' strikes the end of the dog I I2 to raise the latter bodily and thereby rock the. lever I05 in a contraclockwise direction in the manner indi- I cated .in Fig. 4. The knock-"off plate I00, connectedto the upright arm IMjof the lever lll5,is

thus slid laterally to causeits-pin Illl to engage the beveled endof thepawl "86 to pry the latter awayfrom the detent-pin 9I.,

Upon release of thedetent-latch 86 the spring shipperarm ,IIl toward the-left, as viewed in Fig. 2, and through the engagement of its yoke II with the'iiange Eton the pulley Hi; the latter is with drawn from engagement with the clutch-member I BE] to disconnect the drive. ,As the. lever 80 is moved to declutch the drive-pulley II it acts through the link 93 to impart rotative movement to the brake-ring TI on the'base 5. The force of the spring I8 is thus applied tothe brake-ring 1 w causegits wedge-blocks I39 to continue to coact with the fixed Wedge-blocks I32 to frictionally engage the ring with the braking surface 16 on the turret 5. This wedgingaction of the brake-. ring TI is augmentedby the rotation of the" turret 4 which, by itsfrictional engagement with the ring, tends to .force the'wedge-faces I 31 and 138 intofflrrner contact to effect prompt arrestment.

of the. operation of the machine.

As the brake-ring I! and itsconnected parts; are rotated to arrest the operation. of the machine the contact-screws I4! and. I58 are separated'in theQmanner indicated in Fig. 4, where byto open the solenoid circuit. This provision for breaking the circuit to disrupt thefiow of electrical current sav'es current when. the machine is inoperative and. prevents overheating and burning out the windings of the solenoid, or

' of a transformer whenthe latter is employed in the circuit.

Aftergthe operation ofthe machine isarre sted the operator or attendant inayslide the spindle IIE upwardly in its bearing I13 by raising the thimble 298.. Thethimble ZIIILloop-catcher 2I5 the" last fabricated portionof the. fabric to uncover the fault or defect therein so thatitmay be cut outfor repaired. Thereafter, the detector parts maybelowered again into operative position; andthe machine restarted by merely shift-v ing the; startingjhandle 8 5.

I It willybe' observed from the foregoing that tion to braiding, knitting and like machines and itsconnections may thus be withdrawn from I .60 I

the present invention provides an improved con- I I struction'fof controlling mechanism for applica-.

the product of the machine and detect faults thereinzadjacent the point of fabrication so that when the operation of the machine is arrested the imperfections may be readily corrected by the tecting looped strands, enlargements or other vBIS . mb n i of m ans r crming a ubu ar ab-- imperfections in the fabric andacts automatically to promptly arrest the operation of the machine upon occurrence of such faults, The detector or loop-catcher is extremely sensitive and positive in action, being light in weight to adapt it to be moved easily by the upward feed of the fabric to initiate the operation of the stopping mechanism of the machine.

With the use of the present improved device multiple-end yarns may be braided or'knitted intothe fabric andthe lattermechanically. inspected to prevent the passage, of loose ends thereinto so as to maintain the required plyi One end of a multi-ply yarn may become broken without releasing the appropriate stop element which will still be held by the remaining strand or strands; but when such a break occurs the end usually becomes-snarled or looped inthe fabric and thus the fault will be detected and theoperation of the machine arrested by the present improved device. v

Should a broken or exhausted supply strand be repaired without first drawing its end from the last-formed portion of the fabric. loops will appear in the fabric'and will be immediately caught up by the loop-catcher to arrest the operation of the machine. Likewise, when broken ends are .tied-together with too large a knot, such a knot will be. caught up y the detector or loop-catcher. In this manner the dectcctordevice acts to inspect the operators. work and to prevent the passageof irregularities resulting from faulty piecing-up.

While the improved stopping mechanism is herein shown as appliedto on a braiding machine of certain type, it is to be understood that it may have other applications and the construction and arrangement of its parts may be varied without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself to. the exact embodiment of the. invention herein shown, I claim:

1. In a machine of the type indicated, .means operatio oith i a hi e Qo t he rounding the formed. fabric and adaptedtojem gage. a loop or tangle projecting therefrom, and

means operative by said loop-catcher toactuate the stopping means.

2. In a machine of. the type indicated, the

being movable by and with the fabric, and means.

operative by the movement of said member when engaged with a loop or tangle to operate. the stopping mechanism.

4. In a machine of the type indicated, means for combining strands to form a tubular fabric,

stopping means for arresting the operation of the or tangles therein, means for feeding the fabric pa tv the detector, and means operative by the detector when engaged with a loop to actuate the stopping means. by

5. In a machine of the type indicated, means for combining a plurality of strands to form a fabric, stopping means for arresting the operation of the machine, a loop-catcher formed with a plurality of prongs adapted to engage a loop projecting from the fabric and to be moved thereby in the direction of feed of the fabric, and means operative bythe loop-catcher to actuate the stopping means;

6. In a machine of the type indicated, means for combining a plurality of strands to form a fabric, stopping means for arresting the opera.-

tion of the machine, a loop-catcher having a plurality of prongs. extending angularly toward the fabric and adapted to engage a loop or tangle projecting from the fabric and to be moved thereby in the direction of feed of the fabric, and

means actuated by the movement ,of the loopcatcher to initiate the operation of the stopping ric through themachine, an annular detector rotatable about the fabridsaid detector having means for engaging defects in the fabric to be moved by and with the latter, and means operative by said movementof the detector to actu ate the stopping means.

8. In a machine of the type indicated, means for combining strands to form a fabric. means for feeding the formed fabric through the ma-. chine; stopping means for arresting the opera tion of the machine, a bodily-movable detector surrounding the fabric and having means for engaging loops or snarls projecting therefrom, and means operated by the detector when the latter is moved with the fabric to actuate be stopping means. 1

9. In a machine of the type indicated, means machine, an' annular detector rotatable about the fabric and having means for engaging loops for combining strands to form 'a tubular fabric,

means for feeding the formed fabric through the machine, stoppingnieans for arresting the operation of the machine, an annular detector surrounding the fabric and having inwardly-pro jecting prongs adapted to engage with loops or snarls thereon, means to rotate the detector about the fabric, and means operative by movement of the detector with the fabric to actuate the stopping means.

10. In a machine of the type indicated, means for combining strands to form a fabric, stopping means for'arresting the operation of the machine, electrically-controlled means for actuat ing the stopping means, an electric circuit therefor, a detector surrounding the formed fabric and having means on its interior for catching loops or tangles projecting therefrom, said detector being adapted to be moved by and with the fabric in the direction of its feed, and cir- Cllit-CIOSIQQ means actuated by said detector for energizing the electrical means to actuate the stopping means.

11. In a machine of the type indicated, means for combining strands to form a fabric, stopping means for arresting the operation of the machine, detent-means for normally maintaining the stopping means inactive, electrically-controlled means for releasing the detent-means, an electrical circuit therefor, a detector for detecting faults in the fabric, said detector enclosing the fabric and having means thereon for catching a loop or snarl therein whereby to be moved by and with the fabric in the direction of its feed, circuit-closing means operated by said detector, and means operative concurrently with the stopping means to open the circuit when the operation of the machine is arrested.

12. In a braiding or like machine, means for forming a fabric, stopping means for arresting the operation of the machine, means for detecting faults in the formed fabric, comprising a memher having an unyielding projection directed toward the fabric and adapted to catch in a loop or snarl of the yarn, said member being movable by and with the fabric in the direction of feed of the latter when its projection catches in a loop or snarl, and means operative thereby to actuate the stopping means.

13. In a braiding or like machine, means for combining a plurality of strands to form a fabric, stopping means for arresting the operation of the machine, a detector positioned adjacent the formed fabric, comprising a cylindrical member surrounding the fabric and provided with a projection on its interior adapted to catch in a loop or snarl of the strands to cause said member to be moved by and with the fabric in the direction of feed of the latter, and means operative by the detector to actuate the stopping means.

WILLARD W. BARDSLEY. 

